急流 (jí liú) — torrent, rapids; jet stream (meteorology) | TongTong Chinese Dictionary

Definition

A concrete, fast-moving body of water: rapids in a river or a rushing torrent after heavy rain. In meteorology it also means the high-altitude jet stream.

noun

torrentrapidsjet stream (meteorology)

Examples

急流，。
Zhè tiáo hé liú zhōng yǒu hěn duō jí liú, huá chuán fēi cháng wēi xiǎn.
This river has many rapids, making boating very dangerous.
急流。
Qì xiàng xué jiā zhèng zài yán jiū jí liú duì quán qiú qì hòu de yǐng xiǎng.
Meteorologists are studying the impact of the jet stream on global climate.
，急流。
Bào yǔ guò hòu, shān jiān xíng chéng le jù dà de jí liú.
After the heavy rain, a huge torrent formed in the mountains.

Origin

Compound word

构词法gòucífǎ

偏正piānzhèngModifier + head

The first part narrows down the second: it says what kind of thing the head is.

“急” (rapid) and “流” (flow) together mean a rapid flow, such as rapids or jet stream.

Characters in this word

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

心心xīnheart

Sound part声符shēngfú

及

及jí急jí

Same sound today

急 pairs 心 (heart) with 及, which gives the sound.

Most characters — around four in five — are built this way: one part hints at the meaning, the other at the pronunciation.

Meaning part形符xíngfú

水水shuǐwater

Sound part声符shēngfú

㐬

㐬㐬流liú

The sound has drifted apartThe sound part was a clue two thousand years ago — it often still helps, but not always.

流 has 水, water, and 㐬, which gives the sound. The water part matches meanings such as flow.

Appears in

Geography & Landforms

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